The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-02
SANCTION OF THE HOLY SEE
Denial of the Recent Report that 1t Has
Been Given to the Knights of Labor.
Cardinal Gibbons Hurrying Homeward for
the Purpose of Holding Consultation
with the Arcbbishops of the Church.
Baltimore Special to New York sun.

Baltimore Special to New York sun.
Private advices have reached this city to the
effect that Cardinal Gibbons who was not
pected to sail for America until the latter part
of August, will suddenly return at once Any
steamer which sails from Havre within the next
few days may contain him among its passengers.
Dstensiby the motive for this sudden return Is
illness, for the Cardinal has been in bad health
for a number of years, and has suffered consid
erably during his present trip. In reality there
are other reasons beneath the surface. The
rest among the Catholics of the United States
who are chiefly workingmen, is likely to increase
during the summer. when thousands thrown
out of employment and delivered to the
teachings OF leaders who tell them that all their
owing to a perverted organization of
society innately corrupt, and who call upon their
followers to destroy it. Cardinal Gibbons has
put his position regarding the Knights of
Labor upon record, and the facts he presented
TO the Holy See were of sufficient import to
make a suspension of Cardinal Taschereau's
condemnation necessary. But those who are in
clined to view the matter as settled in favor or
the Knights some of the papers saying the
church has sanctioned the organization, are
shooting beyond the mark. The word sanction"
would signify from its derivation sort OF sol
emn rel igiouS blessing bestowed upon the order.
But the action of the Holy Office has been simply
TO withdraw its decision concerning the order.
which was based upon Cardinal Taschereaus re-
port presented other facts in serious conflict
with the first. This court is constituted like all
other courts of law, whose former decisions can
be revoked and the case held IN suspension when
further facts are presented. That is what has
occurred at Rome. The case of the knights of
Labor is still pending.
It is well known that Cardinal Gibbons's views
are not entirely in accord with the views of
other archbishops. Certain archbishops hold
that the constitution of the Knights Of Labor is
all wrong. Cardinal Gibbons holds that it Is
Now. while Cardinal Gibbons is the chief prelate
of this couEtry, the others also have alright to
be heard. The case remains in suspense until
all their facts and views can be laid before the
holy Office at Rome.
The threatening aspect OF affairs has caused
the sudden return of the Cardinal 1t laid
down as law by the recent plenary council
that when society condemned it should be
done only by council of all the archbishops in
the country, duly summoned for the considera-
tion of the facts. Hitherto the anomaly has
existed of society condemned one diocese
and approved in another, This often led TO
scandalous quarrels. council OF the arch
bishops-twelve in all-can be speedily brought
together. apd be 1t noted, these councils will
be held without any ceremonious display. The
twelve gentlemen who will meet Cardinal Glib
bons at his residence in this city will come and
depart with hardly echo of their presence
going abroad. They will meet like a committee
around table for the discussion of a
weighty matter, but entirely relating to
facts. Each archbishop will subIait the date he
has gathered and the views they have led him to
form and coincidence Of opinion will if posi-
reports will probably be made. a majority and n
minority report. and both transmitted to Rome
A careful consideration of the matter may lead
the Holy Ohie TO continue the suspension and re-
serve its final decision for future development
of facts. OF course, throughout the great
est Amiability will mark the discussions of the
archbishops. even though their views may wide
Iy diverge
1t is idle to forecast what the upshot of the
matter will be. / believe most OF the archbish-
ops are on the liberal side of the question and
will recommend the Holy Once 10 allow the
Knights of Labor free play. Even if there are
some trivial flaws in the organization, it is not
the part OF the church to examine them too
closely. If Catholics were prohi bited from Join
ing organizations whose principles not per
feet, very few political parties would receive
their votes. Cardinal Gibbons struck the key
note when he said that dangerous theories. in
this country. bad best be left 10 that good sense
and natural business of the American public,
which he much admires
Mr. PowderIy tn His Correspondents.